Crop dryer



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Aug. 21, 1962 w 1.. HUBBARD ET Al.

CROP DRYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 12, 1960 INVENTORS w. 1.. HUBBARD a n. A. ES s E x M 4 M ATT ORN EY 1962 w. 1.. HUBBARD ET AL 3,050,111

CROP DRYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 12, 1960 INVENTORS W. L. HUBBARD 8: D. A. ESSEX ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,950,111 Patented Aug. 21, 1952 3,356,111 CRGP DRYER Wallace L. Hubbard, Des Moines, and Duane A. Essex, Ankeney, Iowa, assignors to Deere & Company, Moline, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 62,225 6 Claims. (Cl. 15828) This invention relates to a crop drying machine and more particularly to the fuel burner utilized in the machine.

It is the main purpose of the present invention to provide a new and novel type of burner which features a primary air inspirator in the form of a first cylinder or duct having a fuel feeding orifice at one end and a fuel igniter system formed in the side of the duct or cylinder which ignites the fuel passing through the orifice. The inspirator has its opposite end inserted in the open end of a second cylinder or duct spacedly from the internal surface of the second duct. The inspirator duct is supported by the second cylinder so that it may be moved axially relative thereto. The inspirator duct also has provided on its outer surface a radial bafiie member which is slidably mounted on the surface to open or close the space between the internal surface of the second cylinder and the outer surface of the first cylinder o-r duct.

It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide a vaporizer at the remote end of the second cylinder which operates to vaporize the liquid fuel prior to the time the fuel is passed into the orifice. The inspirator is normally U-shaped and is disposed around the remote edge of the second cylinder and has an inlet accessible to the liquid fuel and an outlet opening to the orifice.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the nature of the invention is better understood from the following description and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crop dryer and a portion of a building containing material being dried and including a canvas conveying duct extending from the dryer to the building.-

, FIG. 2 is a perspective View of one end of the dryer with a screen portion removed for purpose of clearly exposing internal mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the opposite end of the dryer. 1

. FIG. 4 is a side view, partially in section, of the burner.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, the dryer is composed of a main mobile supporting frame including a transverse axle structure 11 carrying transversely spaced transport wheels 12, 13 and having a forwardly directed draw-bar or tongue 14, which may be connected for transport purposes to the rear of a tractor.

Supported on the mobile frame is an elongated cylindrical shaped dryer housing 16. conventionally connected to the discharge end of the housing 16 is a canvas duct 17 which is flexible and guides the air dis"- charged from the dryer into a building containing moist corn, hay, or other farm product. Mounted on the outer surface of-the'housing 1-6 is an electrical fuse box 18 and circuit box 19which receives power from anoutside power source through an electric cable 20. On the opposite side of the housing 16 is a control box 21 of conventional nature which is utilized for the purpose of controlling the various elements of the dryer.

An electric motor 22 is provided in the housing 16 at the opposite end from the canvas duct 17. A mount ing stand 23 welded to the internal surface of the housi-ng is provided to support the electric motor 22. An electric wire extends from the circuit box 19 to the electric motor 22 through a conduit 24. A multitude of radial fan blades 25 are carried on the motor shaft and operate when driven to drive air from the motor end of the housing 16 through the discharge end and through the canvas duct 17. A screen 26 is provided at the air intake end of the housing 16.

Provided within the housing 16 and on the opposite side of the blades 25 from the motor 22 is a fuel burner, here indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 30. The burner 30 is composed of a first venturi type inspirator casing or duct 31 which necks down from an enlarged fuel intake end to an opposite cylindrical shaped end. The latter end extends into one end of a second cylindrical shaped casing or duct 32 which is generally axially coextensive with the duct 31 and has an end adjacent to and slightly overlying in spaced relation the end of the duct 31. The end of the duct 32 is spacedly disposed relative to the end of the duct 31 so as to permit a flow of air in the space between the outer surface of the duct 31 and the inner surface of the duct 32. The duct 31 is supported on the duct 32 by means of a bracket structure 33 which is composed of a pair of narrow axially extending portions 34 which extend from the end of the duct 32. The bracket structure 33 also includes radial arm portions 35 integral with the aforementioned portions 34 and a hub portion 36 which overlies the surface of the first duct 31. As may be seen from viewing FIG. 4, the first duct 31 may be axially movable relative to the second duct 32. The bracket structure is fixed to the second duct 32 by means of bolts 37 and the first duct 31 may be locked against axial movement by means of a set screw 38 extending through the hub 36.

The intake end of the first duct 31 is provided with a pair of radial lugs 40, 41 on which is bolted at 43, 44 an orifice bracket 42. The orifice bracket 4-2 extends diametrically across the open intake end of the duct 31 thereby leaving the intake end generally open. A centrally located orifice 45 is provided in the bracket 42. Fuel is fed into and through the orifice 45 by a street L '49 and is directed in a stream through the first duct 31 and into the second duct 32. Midway between the ends of the duct 31 is a fuel igniter element, here in the form of a spark plug 46 which operates to ignite the fuel as it passes through the first duct 31. A wire 47 leads from the control box 21 to the element 46.

Between the adjacent ends of the ducts 31, 32 is a baifie plate 50 which extends radially from the outer surface of the duct 31 to an outer annular edge substantially of the diameter of the cylindrical duct 32. The plate 50 is provided with a hub portion '51 which has a set screw 52 so that the baffie plate 50 may be adjusted axially to open or close the space between the outer surface of the duct 31 and the inner surface of the duct 32. As previously mentioned, the bracket structure 33 is generally open so that air may pass through the bracket structure and into the second duct 32. The pur-- pose of the baflie plate 50 is to adjust the quantity of air which may pass through the bracket structure, the quantity of air being determined by the distance the plate 50 is from the end of the duct 32. Adjacent the remote or outer end of the second duct 32 is a vaporizer tube '55. The tube is generally U-shaped and is disposed about the edge of the duct 30. The tube has an inlet from a liquid petroleum supply 54 (FIGS. 1, 2) the liquid being either a propane or butane gas in its liquid form. The tube 55 has an outlet extending into the control box 21 where there is provided suitable pressure control mechanism, not shown. From the control box 21 the gas is fed to the orifice 45. As is conventional, the purpose of the vaporizer tube 55 is to convert the gas from its liquid state into its vaporized state for introduction into the primary firing duct 31. Just outwardly of the remote or discharge end of the duct 32 is a flame plate 56 on which the flame impinges and is deflected. The flame plate 56 is just behind the blades 25 of the fan and consequently as the flame is deflected the flow of air from the fan drives the generated heat out the discharge end of the housing 16. A flame rod 57 is fitted inside of the duct 32 and extends inwardly to contact the flame within the duct. The flame rod 57 is a sensitizing unit Wtih suitable relays, such as at 58, extending into the control box 21. The flame rod 57 is sensitive to the flame, and should the flame not occur the sensitizing units will automatically shut off the flow of gas into. the burner. This latter feature has no purpose relative to the present invention, but is described for purposes of orientation and the full appreciation of the burner mechamsm.

The duct 32 is provided with three radially extending and outwardly projecting flanges 60. The burner 30 is supported within the housing 16 by means of three V- shaped hanger rods 61 which have opposite leg portions bolted to the flanges 60. The apex portions of the V- shaped hangers 61 are bolted as at 62 to the housing 16. The hangers 61 are equally angularly spaced about the burner and consequently suspend the burner centrally or concentrically with the housing 16.

The purpose of the adjustable shutter '50 is to control the flow of air between the primary or first duct 31 and the secondary or second duct 32. The shutter may be adjusted for the most eflicient burning over the range and quantity of fuel which is introduced into the burner. By permitting axial adjustment between the primary duct 31 and the secondary duct '32, the position of the flame relative to the second duct 32 as well as the deflector plate 56 may be controlled. Also, the exit velocity of the flame as it leaves the second duct 32 may also be controlled. By providing a Venturi or funnel type primary duct, there is provided generally a stable operation over a Wide range of pressures that the vaporized fuel may be introduced into the primary duct 31. Generally the gradual reduction of the size of the primary duct 31 tends to stabilize the effect of normal variations in pressure of the fuel as it is introduced into the duct 31 by the orifice 45.

While only one form of the invention has been shown, it should be recognized that other forms and variations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad principles of the invention. It should therefore be understood that While the invention was described in detail for the purpose of clearly and concisely illustrating the principles of the invention, it is not intended to narrow or limit the invention beyond the broad general nature set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A liquid fuel burner comprising a first elongated casing formed about an axis and open at opposite ends; structure at one end of the casing defining a fuel-discharging orifice for directing a vaporized fuel through the casing from the aforesaid end to the opposite end thereof; a fuel-igniter element supported on the casing between its ends for igniting the fuel as it passes through the first casing; a second casing formed about an axis and disposed in axially coextensive relation to the first casing and having one end thereof larger than and surrounding the aforesaid opposite end of the first casing and an end remote from the first casing; bracket structure fixed to the second casing having an axial portion extending beyond said one end of the second casing in the direction of the first casing and a radial portion extending from thence inwardly to a hub portion overlying the outer surface of the first casing, said bracket structure being open to permit flow of air between the outer surface of the first casing and the inner surface of the second casing; releasable means locking the hub portion and first casing against relative axial movement; an annular shutter member slidably mounted for axial movement along the outer surface of the first casing and disposed radially inwardly of the axial portion of the bracket structure to thereby regulate the amount of air passing through the bracket structure; and a vaporizer tube disposed around the remote end of the second casing and extending from a liquid fuel inlet to a vaporized fuel outlet opening into the orifice.

2. A liquid fuel burner comprising a first elongated casing formed about an axis and open at opposite ends; structure at one end of the casing defining a fuel-discharging orifice for directing a stream of fuel through the casing from the aforesaid end to the opposite end thereof; a fuel-igniter element supported on the casing between its ends for igniting the fuel as it passes through the first casing; a second casing formed about an axis disposed in axially coextensive relation to the first casing and having one end thereof larger than and surrounding the aforesaid opposite end of the first casing and an end remote from the first casing; bracket structure fixed to the second casing having an axial portion extending beyond said one end of the second casing in a direction of the first casing and a radial portion extending from thence inwardly to a hub portion overlying the outer surface of the first casing, said bracket structure being open to permit flow of air between the outer surface of the first casing and the inner surface of the second casing; releasable means locking the hub portion and first casing against relative axial movement; and a radial shutter member slidably mounted for axial movement along the outer surface of the first casing and disposed radially inwardly of the axial portion of the bracket structure to thereby regulate the amount of air passing through the bracket structure.

3. A liquid fuel burner comprising a first elongated duct open at opposite ends; structure at one end of the duct defining a fuel-discharging orifice for directing a stream of fuel through the duct from the aforesaid end of the opposite end thereof; a fuel-igniter element supported on the duct between its ends for igniting the fuel as it passes through the duct; 3 second duct larger in sizethzm the first duct and disposed to extend from one end adjacent to and surrounding and in spaced relation to the aforesaid opposite end of the first duct to an end remote from the first duct; bracket structure fixed to and extending beyond said one end of the second duct in a direction toward the aforesaid end of the first duct and including a portion extending inwardly to engage the outer surface of the first duct to permit adjustment of the amount of overlap between the adjacent ends of the two ducts, said bracket structure being open to permit flow of air between the outer surface of the first duct and the inner surface of the second duct; releasable means locking said portion and the first duct against relative movement; and a shutter member mounted for relative movement between said inwardly extending portion of said bracket structure and the said one end of the second duct to thereby regulate the amount of air passingthrough the bracket structure.

4. A liquid fuel burner comprising a first elongated duct open at opposite ends; structure at one end of the duct defining a fuel-discharging orifice for directing a stream of fuel through the duct from the aforesaid end to the opposite end thereof; a fuel-igniter element supported on the duct between its ends for igniting the fuel as it passes through the duct; 2. second duct larger in size than the first duct and disposed to extend from one end adjacent to and surrounding and in spaced relation to the aforesaid opposite end of the first duct to an end remote from the first duct; bracket structure connecting said adjacent ends and effective to permit adjustment of the amount of overlap between the adjacent ends of the two ducts, said bracket structure being open to permit flow of air between the outer surface of the first duct and the inner surface of the second duct; and a shutter member mounted for relative movement as respects the open bracket structure and adjacent ends of the ducts to thereby regulate the amount of air passing through the bracket structure.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 in which the first duct is cylindrical shaped at said opposite end, and the bracket structure includes a hub portion slidably mounted on the cylindrical shaped end for axial movement and radial arm portions connected to the second duct at its adjacent end.

6 6. The invention defined in claim 4 in which the first duct is a funnel type duct with the smaller end thereof being said opposite end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,879,832 Thompson Sept. 27, 1932 2,077,043 Gehnrich Apr. 13, 1937 10 2,896,933 Barnes July 28, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 384,357 France Feb. 1, 1908 

